Terrarium filter plate

Details Terrarium filter plate Terrarium filter plate

2000-03-13

2001-09-04

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)

Animal husbandry

Aquatic animal culturing

Aquarium

C119S260000, C119S248000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283061

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to aquariums and more particularly to a multiple environment aquarium such as a terrarium.
Several United States Patents have been directed to various ecosystems and specifically, to aquarium filtration systems. These include U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,473, issued to Scwartz, et al., on Apr. 28, 1953; U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,574, issued to Kelly, on Sep. 22, 1970; U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,101, issued to Katz, on Dec. 30, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,151, issued to Woltmann, on Jan. 16, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,334, issued to Wechsler, on Feb. 26, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,366, issued to Kim, on Jul. 7, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,400, issued to Ramey, on Aug. 4, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,581, issued to Rosenberg, on Aug. 10, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,914, issued to Englert, on Dec. 14. 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,220, issued to Sceusa, on Dec. 2, 1997; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,085, issued to Youngstrom et al., on Sep. 28, 1999. Each of these patents will be outlined in the following discussion.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,473, issued to Scwartz, et al., on Apr. 28, 1953, discloses a “Water Purifying Device for Aquariums.” This invention discloses an aquarium plate with communicating channels joined by cross channels and fine holes or openings for breaking up particles sucked into the channels. The plate is covered with sand and the waste particle are decomposed in the sand and drawn through the openings by a suction provided by a suction tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,574, issued to Kelly, on Sep. 22, 1970, discloses a “Corner Air Lift for Aquariums.” This patent is directed towards a plate that fits into a corner of an aquarium to form a water channel. The plate has slots to allow for water flow while prohibiting animal entry. The invention is designed to utilize an air
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lift to create a water flow within the aquarium.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,101, issued to Katz, on Dec. 30, 1975, discloses a “Filtration and Circulation System and Apparatus Therefore.” This specification discloses the use of a system for maintaining an aquarium environment in the absence of plant life. The system uses a biological filter means, a mechanical filtration means, and an algae propagation means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,151, issued to Woltmann, on Jan. 16, 1990, discloses a “Filter Cartridge for an Undergravel Aquarium Filter.” This filter cartridge system utilizes an under-gravel suction to pull water through the gravel bed of an aquarium. The water is passed through a charcoal filter before being returned to the upper level of the aquarium.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,334, issued to Wechsler, on Feb. 26, 1991, discloses an “Aquarium-Terrarium Tank.” This disclosure centers around an aquarium tank with a low wall to provide for installation of a water filtration system. This low wall allows for small body of water and small filtration system while still maintaining a dry land area for amphibians.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,366, issued to Kim, on Jul. 7, 1992, discloses an “Aquarium Having Aquaculture Pot and Fountain.” The disclosure describes a pot placed on top of an aquarium to filter water from the aquarium. The system uses a motorized water pump to lift water from the tank and into the pot. Gravity then pulls the water through the pot which acts a filter for removing the precipitates, and the water flows out of the pot and back into the aquarium.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,400, issued to Ramey, on Aug. 4, 1992, discloses a “Vivarium for Ecosystem Teaching Purposes and Recreational Observation.” This enclosure uses partitioned areas for soil, and water to form terrestrial and aquatic environments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,581, issued to Rosenberg, on Aug. 10, 1993, discloses a “Wet/Dry Filtration System Utilizing Mechanical, Biological and Chemical Means.” This system teaches a combined oxygen reactor chamber and bacterial chamber to maximize the bacterial bed effectiveness. The system also claims to saturate the water with oxygen to oxidize any chemicals not controlled by the bacteria.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,914, issued to Englert, on Dec. 14. 1993, discloses an “Undergravel Filtration System.” This system pulls water through a sand or gravel bottom and then passes the water upward past bio-balls to be returned to the aquarium. The system uses the upward movement of air to create the water movement upward past the bio-balls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,220, issued to Sceusa, on Dec. 2, 1997, discloses an “Aquarium Filtration System for Semi-Aquatic Animals.” The specification describes the use of a ramp with filtration cartridges to allow for access for an animal between the aquatic and dry environments. The system also teaches the use of a reverse flow and increased flow path for improved filtration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,085, issued to Youngstrom et al., on Sep. 28. 1999, discloses an “Underwater Apparatus for an Aquarium and Related Methods,” The novelty of this invention is directed towards the creation of an under water air chamber for access by amphibians and the like.
Thus, the present aquarium market provides very few, if any, proper tools for working terrariums. Even the prior art devices that have been created for aquariums have many disadvantages for the terrarium system. Most of these prior art devices use a large amount of space and take up more room than needed, or these devices utilize expensive water pumps, and the pump systems do not perform well. Furthermore, the varying species kept in a terrarium need an environment that is capable of neutralizing wastes to prevent toxic waste buildup that is not provided by these prior art devices. In addition, the animals that reside in terrariums are fragile and need a low-maintenance or clean and self-sufficient environment to minimize environment disruptions.
What is needed, then, is a terrarium filtering system for providing a low maintenance environment designed to minimize or eliminate the build up of potentially harmful wastes in a terrarium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a terrarium filtering device, apparatus, and method is disclosed which addresses the drawbacks of the prior art devices and in one of its exemplary forms includes a base filtration plate, a barrier wall, and an environment separation cup.
The present invention includes a terrarium filtering system for maintaining a wet environment, a moist environment, and a dry environment within an aquarium tank. The filtering system includes a terrarium filter plate with a barrier wall to separate the wet and moist areas, water flow holes and water movers connected to a bubbling system to provide aeration and create a water flow, and a passive waste neutralization system. The terrarium filter plate is covered with a filtering media and together they act as a filtering device. Waste materials in the water are moved by flowing water to be trapped in the filtering media, and a porous passive neutralization system is used to offset toxins in the water flow.
One object of the present invention is to provide an easily maintainable and inexpensive device for filtering a terrarium environment.
A further object of the present invention is to create a multi-favored environment with at least three living environments. The first environment is a dry area, the second environment is a moist area and the third environment is an aquatic area.
One advantage of the present invention is the use of discrete areas for containing the dry media and maintaining it as a separate area away from the moist and wet environments.
A further advantage of the present invention is the use of a barrier wall divider to separate the moist environment from the aquatic environment.
A still further advantage of the present invention is the use of air line routing holes and guide rods in conjunction with the barrier wall to position the air lines out of sight of the terrarium observer and prevent cluttering of the environments.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the use of a permeable container filled with neutralizers to clean the water and prevent toxic waste buildup.
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